#2 Mott!

Toronto LOVES Two Hands…!
Ares and Aphrodite are Amazing!

server under strain?

#8

Going to watch the episode in about an hour. I can't wait…

qod: Bring down prices, balance, balance, balance, and let the vineyard show in the wine. To many Aussie wines taste the same, are not unique. That said, Two hands seems to be doing a great job, though in this economy the prices are a bit much. I have tried Ares, and I can get similar flavor profile for $60.00 or less right now as many big hitters are dumping their wines at 50-70% off.

Top 10
?
; )

Alright, been looking forward to this.

Yo Micheal can I find this in Sweden?
Boy is this Aussie a salesman 🙂
Of course Australia have a place in my cellar , every land deserve a place..
QOTD: Let the land, sun and wind speak it's on language, don't mess it up with that over the top oak. That's it. I love Australia, been teher twice and going there next year to celebvrate my 50-th and will be a wine trip from Perth to Sydney.

Bought a (half) case of the Suduiraut 09 as well as a case of the Lafaurie Peyraguey 09. Yum. How's the 2009 barrel samples looking Gary?

Australia? OK they've made progress, I agree, but we know where the best wines are to be found . . .

“My God, it's full of stars” – Bowman's last words after tasting the 2009 Latour.

http://www.bordoverview.com/?bank=both

Very good two part episode. Michael, you held your own against Mr. Vaynerchuk and that is an accomplishment of some significance. You represent Australia well.

QOTD – Still being somewhat new to the wine world I cannot give you anything more specific that to concentrate on excellent QPR.

I love the styles and am presently focused on learning more about the Shiraz/Syrah offerings that are out there.

I have enjoyed serveral from your land and will try more.

Thank you both for a a very enlightening session.

Meh.

QOTD: Have a little balance to your wines. A large portion of the wines are just over the top in alcohol and lack a real sense of place. One of the few distinct Auzzies I have had was an 01 dead arm last year and it was finally getting to a pleasing place, maybe they just need lots of time.

Good question, wish I had the answer. Kudos to Michael for getting out and promoting his wines. As everyone knows, $50 Austalian wines (or wines from anywhere) are not flying off the shelves these days. Have yet to try a 'Two Hands' wine but they are available in my market so I may have to step up to the plate and give one a shot.

Am I the only one that thinks its shocking how long that affair with the oak monster lasted? About a week or less it seems, which is fine I completely understand. What I don?t understand is how everyone was singing the smaller Oz producers praises when Gary was in Sydney, and now everyone has jumped back on the Australia bashing bandwagon. I agree that some Australian wines occasionally lack balance regarding alcohol and fruit. And I would also agree that they have not done a good job marketing in the U.S. or finding a suitable price point for the “second tier” range. However, there are (as was mentioned in this ep and the previously mentioned ep) wines that bring enormous amounts of thunder to Gary?s, mine and according to some previous episodes Vayniacs world. That being said I only wish they were less expensive and more accessible in the States.

There, I answered the QOTD in my little rant. I agree with most of the commenter?s, but we Vayniacs often are quick to dismiss the good and comment on what we believe is not so good.

Read my comment please!

Aussie wine rock big time, and have done so, for many years now!

Fuck of Napa! sorry ; )

hey hey

Great episode!!
The answer to the q is simple. If people would stop buying all their wines in their local supermarket, and made an effort to seek out a specialized store where they could get some professional help in selecting what they are looking for, they would realize that Aussie wines are more than just power and one dimentional fruit bombs. Also, more of what we saw from Michael will also enlighten many…I am a huge fan of Australian wines. And yes, it is possible to find balance down under. Just bought a bunch of Mitolo's. Adore what they do. And yes,a cellar without a little Aussie richness, is not complete. Love the show Gary. Keep it up.

Preach on my brotha! Winemakers – Put useful info on the web and interact on social sites. It is how we Millenials will be able to identify with your brand.

QOTD: I don't know if I have any kind of great answer for that. I've never had a prejudice against Australian wines. Only thing that I can say is get your wines out to the suburbs so that Australian wines become more visible to a larger audience. I see a boat load of California wines because I'm sure that is what the distributer is pushing.

Andre Mack rules! http://bit.ly/b8JEFj

Michael – I think that Australia should try to focus more marketing dollars on varietals outside of Shiraz. Many people only think of Shiraz when they think of Australia, with the result that if they're not in the mood for Shiraz, they don't skip Australia all together (most American grocery stores have all Australian wines in one section). So if people were to get used looking in the Australian section for a Clarie Valley Riesling or perhaps a Hunter Valley Semillon, they may notice that delicious bottle of Shiraz and decide to buy it after all.

QOTD: 1. Australia has so many different kinds of wine to offer consumers, the fruit bombs, the oak monsters, and some well balanced beautiful wines. 2. Wines with very interesting and “catchy” labels. 3. Some of the most delicious wines I've had. What they could use is more sponsored tastings at points of sale. Also marketing the single vineyard wines and the winemakers.

The one thing they should avoid is making too cloying of wines. I've often times have had an Aussie wine that I loved and then went back to the store to try another time and got turned off by the sweetness. Or it could be my palate evolving.

Thanks for dropping all the knowledge!

Amen

Now that was a fun, fun show and your guest was knowledgeable and straight-forward. No BS, he loves his wines which he should and does not apologize. Like his partner next to him. He tells it like it is.

QOTD: IMHO, I would like to see more herbaceous and complex red wines instead of the punch-you-in-the-face over the top wines., i.e. “fruit bombs.” They have a myriad of white wines that are fun to try but the reds need to tone it down a bit. Just my 2 cents and taste. 15.8% alc! I wouldnt go near it no matter how great it was.

Great episode keep the good guests rolling.

QotD: I would have to say, price points. He talked about an “entry level” wine at $25. The problem is if he's going after the younger generation then that's still a bit high. That bottle will be $40-$50 in a restaurant and probably $30+ here in nyc and if I can get great wines for $15-$20 that's where I'm going. The Aussie wines that do come in at the lower prices are the ones that have tarnished their rep so up the QPV quotient.

Really enjoyed having Michael as a guest. Great to see.

QTD – I was on the Australian bandwagon from the '98 vintage to roughly '05 vintages. Therefore i am stockpiled with Aussie wines. One thing I have noticed in Northeast Ohio is the lack of diversity. Back when I bought, I was able to find different brands (from Killibinbin to Plantagenet to Sparky's wines). More so now, the Aussie section has been reduced significantly (more shelf space for Malbec's, Spain, Chile, etc.) with many features now centering on the Ringland/Grateful Palate or entry level Marquis wines. Anything above the $30 price point is rare. Back to the question of the day – What can you do? Very tough to say, because I don't have a clear cut answer. I'll go with a need to continually look at prices, reduce if possible, and attempt to differentiate your wine from the producers that bottle high volumne wines with the catchy name or animal on the label. Best of luck as I admit it is a very daunting task.

Note: I broke open an '03 Angel's Share for dinner tonight after watching the episodes. Overall, a nice wine although the $28 price sticker (back in say, '05) does have me questioning where I would now put that money to. I could buy, in Ohio, a Ridge Lytton Springs ($30) for that money or a Chappelett Mountain Cuvee ($27), both very respectable bottles … so that just leaves me, as a consumer, wondering. If I was buying today, unfortunately I would put my money, $30, to California.